Apparatuses, systems and methods for configuring and managing the combination of strings of photovoltaic energy generators to improve the energy production performance of such generators. The strings of photovoltaic energy generators are connected to terminals in a combiner box having receptacles for receiving removable modular units of various types. Removable modular units with measurement capabilities are used in the combiner boxes to measure the direct current input provided by the strings; and in light of the measurements, the removable modular units can be selectively downgraded to simpler units that do not have measurement capabilities to reduce cost, and/or selectively upgraded to more sophisticated units that can adjust the output of the respective strings, such as upconverting the output voltage of the respective strings, to improve the performance of the strings.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A photovoltaic system, comprising: at least one photovoltaic panel connected to provide a direct current input generated by the at least one photovoltaic panel; a set of output terminals; a first receptacle having at least three contacts; and circuitry connecting the direct current input to a first subset of the contacts of the first receptacle and connecting a second subset of the contacts of the first receptacle to the set of output terminals; wherein the first receptacle is configured to receive a removable module having a circuit connected among the contacts of the first receptacle when the removable module is inserted into the first receptacle; and wherein when no removable module is in the first receptacle, the direct current input is not connected to the set of output terminals.
A photovoltaic (PV) system connects a solar panel's DC output to output terminals through a special "combiner box." This box has a receptacle (socket) with multiple contacts. The solar panel's DC input connects to some of these contacts, and the output terminals connect to another set of contacts in the same receptacle. A removable module can be plugged into this receptacle. When plugged in, the module creates a circuit connecting the input and output. Crucially, if no module is present, the solar panel's DC input is disconnected from the output terminals.
2. The photovoltaic system of claim 1 , further comprising: a controller connected to a third subset of the contacts of the first receptacle; wherein when the removable module is inserted into the first receptacle, the controller is connected via the third subset of the contacts of the first receptacle to a controlled circuit hosted on the removable module.
The photovoltaic system described previously includes a controller. This controller connects to another set of contacts in the receptacle where the removable module plugs in. When the removable module is inserted, the controller connects to a "controlled circuit" located inside the module. This allows the controller to interact with and manage the module's functions. Essentially, the controller can communicate with and control the removable module via dedicated contacts in the receptacle.
3. The photovoltaic system of claim 2 , wherein the controlled circuit includes a switch configured to be controlled via a signal from the controller.
In the photovoltaic system where a controller connects to a circuit on a removable module (as previously described), the controlled circuit on the removable module includes a switch. This switch can be turned on or off using a signal sent from the controller. This allows the controller to remotely control the connection between the solar panel input and the output, managed by the switch inside the removable module.
4. The photovoltaic system of claim 3 , wherein the controlled circuit hosted on the removable module includes a local controller controlled by the signal.
The photovoltaic system with a controller connected to a removable module's circuit that includes a switch (as described previously) further includes a local controller inside the removable module. This local controller receives the control signal from the main controller of the PV system and acts upon it to control the switch or other components within the module. This enables a two-level control scheme where the main controller gives high-level commands, and the local controller executes them precisely.
5. The photovoltaic system of claim 2 , further comprising: at least one second photovoltaic panel connected to provide a second direct current input generated by the at least one second photovoltaic panel; and a second receptacle having at least three contacts; wherein the circuitry connecting the second direct current input to a subset of the contacts of the second receptacle; and wherein the circuitry includes a parallel bus connecting the first receptacle and the second receptacle to the set of output terminals in parallel.
The photovoltaic system already described is extended to include a second solar panel and a second receptacle. The second solar panel's DC output connects to a second receptacle, similar to the first. The system now has a parallel bus connecting both receptacles to the output terminals. This means both solar panels are connected in parallel. The first receptacle and second receptacle independently connect to the output terminals.
6. The photovoltaic system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is shared by separate controlled circuits hosted in the first receptacle and the second receptacle respectively.
In the photovoltaic system with multiple solar panels and receptacles connected in parallel (as previously described), a single controller is used to control circuits within *both* the first and second receptacles. This means that one controller can manage and monitor multiple solar panels and their associated removable modules. This centralizes control and reduces the number of controllers needed.
7. The photovoltaic system of claim 6 , wherein the circuitry includes a controller bus connecting the controller to control contacts of the first receptacle and the second receptacle respectively.
The photovoltaic system with a shared controller for multiple receptacles (as described previously) uses a "controller bus." This controller bus is a dedicated electrical connection that runs from the main controller to the control contacts of each receptacle. This allows the controller to send control signals and receive data from each removable module plugged into those receptacles. It is a communication pathway.
8. A removable circuit module, comprising: a circuit board having a plurality of contacts, a portion of the circuit board having the contacts disposed thereon configured to be removably inserted into a receptacle having a plurality of connectors to engage the plurality of contacts and establish electric connections between the contacts and the connectors, wherein the plurality of contacts include a first subset to receive a direct current input and a second subset to provide a direct current output; a local controller mounted on the circuit board and connected to a third subset of the contacts, wherein when the circuit board is inserted into the receptacle, the third subset is connected to a controller bus via the receptacle; and a switch mounted on the circuit board and controlled by the local controller, the switch controllable via the local controller to selectively disconnect or connect an electric path between the direct current input and the direct current output.
A removable circuit module is designed to plug into a receptacle in a combiner box. This module has a circuit board with electrical contacts that mate with connectors in the receptacle. Some contacts receive DC input from solar panels, and others provide DC output. The module contains a local controller and a switch. The local controller is connected to other contacts that connect to a controller bus when plugged in. The local controller controls the switch, which can disconnect or connect the path between the input and output. In summary, it's a pluggable module with a controller and switch.
9. The removable circuit module of claim 8 , further comprising: a measuring unit mounted on the circuit board and coupled with the first subset of the plurality of contacts to measure the direct current input.
The removable circuit module described in the previous claim, which has a local controller and a switch, also includes a measuring unit. This measuring unit is connected to the input contacts to measure the DC input from the solar panel. This allows the module to monitor the performance of the solar panel.
10. The removable circuit module of claim 9 , wherein the measuring unit is configured to measure a current of the direct current input.
The removable circuit module that includes a measuring unit to monitor the DC input of a solar panel (as previously described) specifically measures the *current* of the DC input. The measuring unit captures how many amps the panel is producing.
11. The removable circuit module of claim 9 , wherein the measuring unit is configured to measure a voltage of the direct current input.
The removable circuit module that includes a measuring unit to monitor the DC input of a solar panel (as previously described) specifically measures the *voltage* of the DC input. The measuring unit captures the voltage of the panel's DC output.
12. The removable circuit module of claim 8 , wherein the local controller is configured to communicate measurements from the measuring unit to the controller bus.
The removable circuit module containing a measuring unit and a local controller (as previously described) is configured such that the local controller can send the measurements taken by the measuring unit back to the main controller via the controller bus. This enables real-time monitoring of solar panel performance by the central system.
13. The removable circuit module of claim 8 , further comprising: a power conversion unit controlled by the local controller to convert the direct current input to the direct current output.
The removable circuit module with a local controller and switch also includes a power conversion unit. The local controller manages this power conversion unit to convert the DC input from the solar panel to a different DC output level. This can be used for voltage upconversion or downconversion.
14. The removable circuit module of claim 8 , further comprising: a power conversion unit controlled by the local controller to convert the direct current input to the direct current output.
The removable circuit module with a local controller and switch also includes a power conversion unit. The local controller manages this power conversion unit to convert the DC input from the solar panel to a different DC output level. This can be used for voltage upconversion or downconversion.
15. The removable circuit module of claim 14 , further comprising: a bypass switch selectively controllable by the local controller to provide a path between the direct current input and the direct current output and bypassing the power conversion unit.
The removable circuit module that includes a power conversion unit controlled by the local controller (as previously described) also has a bypass switch. The local controller can selectively control this bypass switch to create a direct path between the DC input and DC output, bypassing the power conversion unit.
16. The removable circuit module of claim 8 , further comprising: an indicator configured to indicate whether the removable circuit module is on or off.
The removable circuit module with a local controller and switch also includes an indicator (e.g., an LED). This indicator shows whether the module is currently active (on) or inactive (off). This gives a visual status of the module's operation.
17. The removable circuit module of claim 8 , further comprising: a push button manually activatable to cause the switch to disconnect the electric path.
The removable circuit module with a local controller and switch also includes a push button. If pressed manually, this button causes the switch to disconnect the electrical path between the input and output. It provides a manual way to shut off the module.
18. A removable circuit module, comprising: a circuit board having a plurality of contacts, a portion of the circuit board having the contacts disposed thereon configured to be removably inserted into a receptacle having a plurality of connectors to engage the plurality of contacts and establish electric connections between the contacts and the connectors, wherein the plurality of contacts include a first subset to receive a direct current input and a second subset to provide a direct current output; a local controller mounted on the circuit board and connected to a third subset of the contacts, wherein when the circuit board is inserted into the receptacle, the third subset is connected to a controller bus via the receptacle; and a power conversion unit mounted on the circuit board and controlled by the local controller to convert the direct current input to the direct current output.
A removable circuit module is designed to plug into a receptacle in a combiner box. It has a circuit board with contacts for DC input and output. The module includes a local controller connected to a controller bus via the receptacle. It also contains a power conversion unit controlled by the local controller, which converts the DC input to a different DC output. In summary, it's a pluggable module with a controller and a DC-DC power converter.
19. The removable circuit module of claim 18 , further comprising: a switch mounted on the circuit board and controlled by the local controller, the switch controllable via the local controller to selectively disconnect or connect an electric path between the direct current input and the direct current output.
The removable circuit module with a power conversion unit controlled by the local controller (as previously described) also includes a switch. This switch, controlled by the local controller, can selectively disconnect or connect the electrical path between the direct current input and the direct current output. It gives the module the ability to cut off the flow of power.
20. The removable circuit module of claim 19 , further comprising: an upconversion unit controlled by the local controller to convert the direct current input to the direct current output.
The removable circuit module with a power conversion unit and a switch (as previously described) includes an upconversion unit controlled by the local controller. The upconversion unit converts the direct current input to the direct current output. This is used to increase the voltage.
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August 14, 2015
December 19, 2017
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